Improvement in tanning deer-skins



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA W. AVERY, OF PLYMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO MANSON S. BROWN, OF SAME PLAOE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING DE ER-SKINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2 17,042, dated July 1, 1879; application filed July 30, 1878.

Improved Process of Tanning Deer- Skins;

and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The special purpose of my invention is to tan deer-skins or buckskins into leather for gloves, which shall possess the superior qualities of a greater resistance to water, greater pliability after having been wet, greater warmth, strength, and firmness, and greater clearness, uniformity, and permanence of color.

1 The usual method of dressing deer-skins for gloves comprises substantially the following successive steps: First, the skins are put in strong lime-water until the hair will readily come off; the hair removed; then they are again put in a strong solution of lime-water until the grain will come off; the grain re-, moved; then they are milled with oil in a fulling-mill until thoroughly dressed; then hung up to dry; and then they are Worked in a cleansing-mill in a weak alkaline solution of potash and soda-ash, but sufficiently strong to remove the oil; and then washed with Water.

After subjecting the skins to the above process, instead of finishing them at once, as usual, I put the skins into a strong liquor of sumac, white-oak or hemlock bark, and keep them therein until the leather becomes as firm and-fine as desired. The time required will depend on the thickness of the skins and strength of the tanning solution-say, from twenty to fifty days. With skins of medium thickness and a bark solution of full strength the average time will be about forty days.

After the skins are removed from the tanliquor they are hung up and dried. I then put them in what I term a fat liquor, which is made as follows: Take of potash, soda-ash, and fish-oil equal parts, by Weight; add one quart of this mixture to six gallons of water; use as much of the liquor as is necessary to immerse the skins; let them stayin theliquor about forty-eight hours. After the skins are taken from this liquor dry them, and then finish them over an emery-wheel in the usual way.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In the process of tanning deer-skins for glove leather, after the grain of the skins has been removed and they have been dressed with oil, dried, cleansed with a weak alkaline solution, and Washed with water, subjecting them to a strong tan-liquor for a sufficient time, as set forth, then treating them in a fat liquor, substantially as specified, and finally drying and finishing them, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

Specification signed by me this 13th day of July, 1878. v

' EZRA WILMOTH AVERY. Witnesses:

SETH DOTON, ANNIE GUILFoRD. 

